Biochemical engineering of the N-acyl side chain of sialic acids alters the kinetics of a glycosylated potassium channel Kv3.1

► Non-natural sialic acids of the Kv3.1 glycoprotein modulate channel activation rates. ► Non-natural sialic acids of the Kv3.1 glycoprotein alter channel inactivation rates. ► The N-acyl side chain of sialic acids is connected to gating of the Kv3.1 channel.